EGYPT – Egypt has launched an electronic system that meets the standards of the World Health Organization to monitor antibiotic consumption in hospitals in an effort to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Antimicrobials are medications that are used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals, and plants including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitic medication.
The surveillance of antibiotic consumption seeks to address the high incidence of inappropriate prescriptions leading to the emergence of bacterial resistance and ultimately increased healthcare costs.
The cost of AMR to national economies and health systems is significant because it reduces the productivity of patients and caregivers by requiring longer hospital stays and more expensive and intensive care.
Subsequently, the electronic program will aid in collection of patient-specific data concerning the antibiotic dosage, dosage interval, underlying disease states, pathogens involved and outcomes of antibiotic use.
The electronic model is represented in the Point Prevalence Survey model for evaluating the quality and use of antibiotics within the antibiotic supervision program in health facilities to address the present and rising threat of antimicrobial resistance.
Egypt’s Ministry of Health also trained pharmacists on programs for the rational use of antibiotics, measuring consumption of antibiotics as well as the role of pharmacists in infection control and enhancing quality of the health system.
“The training program aimed to spread awareness and correct the concept of antimicrobial resistance through continuous education and training,” said Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Population.
He further said that the training of pharmacists sought to reduce infection rates by emphasizing the principles and foundations of the effective and rational use of antibiotics.
Over 1.4 million Egyptians screened for maternal diseases
Meanwhile, the Egyptian Health Ministry announced that 1,454,000 Egyptians have been screened for maternal diseases under the presidential initiative for the early detection of and free treatment for diseases transmitted from mothers to fetus.
“The initiative aims to ensure early detection of infections such as Hepatitis B, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis for pregnant women along with follow ups on the health condition of mothers and newborns for 42 days after delivery,” Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar stated.
He added that screening services offered in public hospitals seeks to avoid any risk for the mother or the newborn, take the required measures as well as dispense the necessary micronutrients during the postpartum period.
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